Matthew Bourne Withdraws From Little Mermaid by Andrew Gans for theatre now

Matthew Bourne, who had been set to direct and choreograph the stage version of "The Little Mermaid," has withdrawn from the project.

A spokesperson for the production confirmed to Playbill On-Line that both Bourne and his frequent collaborator, Lez Brotherston — who was scheduled to design the stage Mermaid — have bowed out of the project. Variety reports that Bourne told friends the Disney project was "too time consuming." Bourne received 1999 Tony Awards for Best Choreographer and Best Director for his production of Swan Lake.

The multi-award winning performance of 'Swan Lake', originally choreographed by Matthew Bourne, and now performed by the contemporary British ballet company Adventures in Motion Pictures (AMP) will visit China on its Asia tour as part of ‘Think UK’. AMP’s extraordinary interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet 'Swan Lake' made history as the longest running ballet ever in London’s West End. Establishing itself as one of the most successful musical theatre productions of all time, the dynamic choreography of AMP’s 'Swan Lake' brilliantly transforms this traditional masterpiece into a hugely entertaining contemporary tale.

Adventures in Motion Pictures director Katharine Dore is close to shutting down what has been one of the most successful contemporary dance companies of the past ten years.

In a letter to shareholders, Dore - sole director since founder and artistic leader Matthew Bourne left in December - said a plan to stage revivals of past AMP work to enable the company to continue and to provide funds for shareholders is "proving impossible".

She added that a decision by Bourne to produce Nutcracker with his New Adventures company has exacerbated the problem, arguing that the piece is a past AMP show and one that could have been revived to bring income to the shareholders.

His avant garde reinventions of The Nutcracker and Swan Lake have earned him a reputation as Britain's most brilliant and audacious choreographer.

But now Matthew Bourne, the doyen of contemporary dance, has been accused of walking out on the troupe that made his name – and taking his repertoire with him.

In an upmarket version of the split between impresario Michael Flatley and Celtic company Riverdance, Bourne is to quit Adventures in Motion Pictures over artistic differences with fellow director Katharine Dore.

My goodness, this is a poor, sensationalist piece of reporting by John Morrison. Firstly, there are few parallels between this situation and that of Michael Flatley and Riverdance. Secondly, Bourne is not taking the rights to "Nutcracker", but has created a new work "Nutcracker!" with, he has assured everyone, all new choreography, although clearly Dore is dispuing that this is a new work. Thirdly, to describe Bourne's "Swan Lake" as "...turned by Bourne into a raving gay fantasy danced by muscular, bare-chested males." is laughable. I wonder if Morrison has ever seen this sensitive work.

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